11.Thegeneral form of a polynomial shows the terms of all possible degree. Here, for example, is the general form of a polynomial of the third degree:

ax3 + bx2 + cx + d

Notice that there are four constants: a, b, c, d.

In the general form, the number of constants, because of the term of degree 0, is always one more than the degree of the polynomial.

Now, to indicate a polynomial of the 50th degree, we cannot indicate the constants by resorting to different letters. Instead, we use sub-script notation. We use one letter, such as a, and indicate different constants by means of sub-scripts. Thus, a1 ("a sub-1") will be one constant. a2 ("a sub-2") will be another. And so on. Here, then, is the general form of a polynomial of the 50th degree: